NHRC seeks report on cremation of a fisherman

Kendrapada, May 18 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Kendrapada District administration to submit a detailed inquiry report on the cremation of Kakdeep-based fisherman, Ganesh Das, who was killed by Orissa forest officials on January two last.

Ganesh was killed in firing by the joint patrolling of Orissa forest and police officials when he was catching fish illegally within the prohibited zone of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary near Chinchiri river mouth along with his fpllow fishermen.

His body was reportedly cremated later without any intimation to the family members after post-mortem.

The fisherman's wife, Shyamali Das, later filed petitions to the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission and Chairman of State Human Rights Commission, urging them to intervene in the matter.

She alleged that the police officials have violated the Human Rights Act by cremating her husband's body without giving an opportunity to her son Gokula Das, who was arrested by forest officials along with other fishermen, to perform his father's last rites.

Shyamali further alleged that the police officials did not wait for her arrival to hand over the body, adding that this reflected their 'barbaric' act.

She said it was shocking that forest officials and police, with an ulterior motive branded all the arrested fishermen as Bangladeshis, although they belonged to South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

UNI